inscribe

verb

in·​scribe in-ˈskrīb 

inscribed; inscribing; inscribes

transitive verb

1

a

: to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record

b

: to enter on a list : enroll

2

a

: to write, engrave, or print characters upon

b

: to autograph or address (a book) as a gift

3

: to dedicate to someone

4

: to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible

a regular polygon inscribed in a circle

5

British : to register the name of the holder of (a security)

inscriber noun

Synonyms

• engrave
• etch
• grave
• incise
• insculp [archaic]

Examples of inscribe in a Sentence

They inscribed the monument with the soldiers' names.

The book was inscribed with the author's signature.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are multiple easter egg nuggets hinting at a 6/6 date inscribed across the ad through jerseys and scoreboards. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Feb. 2025

The ring was inscribed with his wedding date — Dec. 25, 1908 — and the body was identified as a German soldier from World War I, researchers said, confirmed by the discovery of his identification plate. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2025

The saga was supposed to get its most prominent airing yet on Wednesday at Mountain View Cemetery, where two of Owen’s siblings are buried and where a plaque is inscribed with his name and image. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025

Their name was inspired by Healy’s copy of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, which had this date inscribed in it by a previous owner. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin inscribere, from in- + scribere to write — more at scribe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

inscribe

verb

in·​scribe in-ˈskrīb 

inscribed; inscribing

1

a

: to write, engrave, or print as a lasting record

inscribe a name on a monument

b

: to enter on a list : enroll

2

: to write, engrave, or print something on or in

inscribe a locket

3

: to dedicate to someone

inscribe a poem

4

: to draw within a figure so as to touch in as many places as possible

a hexagon inscribed in a circle

inscriber noun

Legal Definition

inscribe

transitive verb

in·​scribe

inscribed; inscribing

: to set down in writing (as the terms of a mortgage) to create a lasting public record

inscription noun